Miller back on L.S. Council

Lime Springs - Jimmy Miller took the oath of office to fill the City Council seat vacated by Todd Mensink, who recently moved out of town.

During the Nov. 6 Lime Springs City Council meeting, Clerk Rhonda Klapperich asked how to take care of a donation check made out to four separate groups. At the last meeting, it was approved by Council to not accept cash by those paying bills or departments depositing money from fund-raisers.

Klapperich asked what to do with the check. It can’t be cashed and money deposited into the pool and library accounts and given as well to the Lime Springs Children’s Theatre Troupe and Junior Community Club.

If the check is deposited into the City’s account, the library and pool money can be put into their accounts, but the other two groups would need a check written, which would count as a payment from the City.

Another issue arose in the past month when a resident paid a bill with a money order and kept back the fee for cost of having a money order.

Council will discuss the matter further at a session on Nov. 20.

• In other business from the meeting, a webinar took place explaining the GovPayNet program, where the City would accept credit cards, but all fees would be paid by the card holder.

Klapperich will look more into the option to pay bills.

• Home owner Chris Chilson was at the meeting to discuss his City sewer insurance. “We’ve been dealing with backups, the last event was early fall. We have the City insurance and are working with Pickar-Oulman. They said the City was against doing the project because the road would have to be closed, and there is a lot of traffic.” 

He noted that if the work was pushed off until spring, “I expect to have a problem. Each time costs us about $120.”

City Works Director Casey Sebastian replied he had tried to get in touch with Chilson, but must have had a different number because there was no reply. He said there was a new process with cure-in-place liner that works and would maybe be a better option, allowing the work to be done without much disruption to the road.

Chilson continued, “I’m fine with waiting, But I don’t want to pay for a call.”

• Paperwork was sent for the property at 118 E. Jackson St. A letter was sent with a deadline of Aug. 1, 2019 to have the house fixed up.

• Council reviewed publishing of minutes. It has been just publishing the votes, which is legal according to Iowa code. A full set of minute with more explanations is also typed, but not published. Council voted to continue publishing the shorter minutes.

Council person Amy Norton offered to take copies of the long minutes to three public places around town, so residents can read the entire transcript.

• The entire school property was not transferred to the new owners, Richard and Angela Cottrell as it should have been. That error has been corrected, and now the couple own the entire school building.

• Under new business, Mensink’s resignation letter was accepted and James Colsch was permitted a fence at his residence at 305 N. Miller St.

Klapperich will pursue the issue of having a dog removed from city limits.

Council is looking at getting a new computer. The new software does not work properly with the old model computer, which is about eight years old.

• Among items to be discussed at a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 20 are employee evaluations, the City property near the Janet Mensink property, which is located on Sage St. and amend the ordinance for adding a fee for demolition. In addition, two amendments that were approved in September are being looked at again